Thread by @ZhugeEX

Let's talk about a controversial topic in the world of video games.

Chinese games dev Paper Games just shut down its game, Shining Nikki, in Korea after controversy erupted between Chinese and Korean players.

This thread is about how Chinese companies view game exports.

1/

It's no secret that China has a strict regulatory environment for games. There are restrictions that developers have to impose on their own games in order to release them in China.

The most recent example being in Genshin Impact:

https://twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/1313575650138218501?s=20

This is a top down approach to game censorship, but it's worth noting that there is also a bottom up approach too

Which is to say Chinese game companies also self censor themselves + Chinese players may demand changes

Changes are made pre-emptively, due to the top down approach

So what is the controversy with Shining Nikki?

Well, the game is a simulation RPG with dressing up elements, which is to say a key part of the game is customising your character with outfits and such.

A Hanbok, Korean traditional clothing pack was released in the game.

Some gamers in China took offense to the DLC as they complained that some of the traditional clothes were in fact Chinese (Ming Dynasty era) and not Korean as claimed

This infuriated some gamers in Korea who claimed China was trying to steal Korean traditional culture

This controversy was already going on outside of the game, due to a different comic book controversy, and the release of this DLC only exacerbated the situation.

Ultimately this led to boycotts from both sides, with review bombing of the game and insults to the devs / players

This controversy got so big that even the Chinese Academy of History issued a notice saying that the clothing should be considered traditionally Chinese, which only led to further boycotts and complaints.

Paper Games did address this by saying it would respect Chinese culture.

However, many in China found this response to be lacking and claimed the devs were afraid to anger Korean players.

Ultimately the devs pulled the DLC and refunded users. They also went one step further and censored / banned players in Korea who insulted them / China.

In Korea this caused further outcry. In China people were still complaining about the issue and that the devs had not addressed the core issue of the clothing being traditionally Chinese. This spawned multiple media articles.

Yes, it turns out people care about this a lot.

As the outcry reached its peak, Paper Games put out a statement saying the following.

- They agree the clothing is traditionally Chinese
- They believe insults against China and Chinese users crossed a line
- They will always support China
- They will close the game in Korea

It is a shame that it got to this point, but the outcome is indicative of the approach Chinese game companies take to satisfy their home market

This wasn't a top down order, it was a driven from the bottom up and led to a tangible outcome, with the game being shut down in Korea

Of course these controversies are nothing new for people who are aware of the Blitzchung incident, the Devotion incident and the recent hololive incidents.

But it shows the disconnect between how Chinese regulators and players view games, and how those outside China view games.